Danielle Barone, LCSW

06/03/2026

Avoidance is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, but it doesn't always look like avoiding memories or reminders of trauma.

A diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder impacts 5 main areas of functioning.
Trust
Safety
Intimacy
Self Esteem
Power/Control

These experiences can leave someone feeling helpless and powerless, as though they have little or no control over their own life. It's difficult to connect, open up, or talk about painful experiences when the people around you are invalidating dismissive, unresponsive, or simply don't understand what you're going through. When vulnerability doesn't feel safe, many people naturally return to avoidance as a form of protection.

The conversations and emotions we avoid often don't disappear; they tend to resurface later, often feeling bigger, heavier, and more difficult to navigate. Avoidance is not a sign of weakness, it's a survival strategy. Healing begins when safety and support make it possible to gradually face what no longer needs to be carried alone.

06/02/2026

05/26/2026

When people feel emotionally and physically safe, defenses can lower. The body becomes less focused on protection and more open to connection and vulnerability.

The tone of the room creates a sense of comfort and communicates safety before a single word is spoken.

Healing happens in those subtle moments.

Do you have any unusual requests in your therapy session ?

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Memorial Day is a time for reflection, gratitude, and compassion for the families, friends, and communities carrying the weight of loss.

At Waves Therapy Group, we recognize that holidays like this can bring a mix of emotions including pride, grief, remembrance, and healing. We stand with veterans, military families, and all those impacted by loss, offering support, understanding, and space to process every feeling that may arise.

As we gather with loved ones today, may we also take a moment to honor the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of those who served.

Wishing everyone a safe, meaningful, and reflective Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

05/25/2026

Magical thinking is more than overthinking.

It can feel like your mind is constantly trying to prevent something bad from happening by staying hyperaware, repeating certain behaviors, or avoiding certain thoughts

For many people with Anxiety, OCD, Trauma, or PTSD, Magical Thinking develops as a way to create a sense of control or safety in situations that once felt unpredictable or overwhelming.

It’s often a nervous system trying to protect you the best way it knows how.

Healing isn’t about judging these thoughts, it's about learning how to feel safe without carrying responsibility for things outside of your control.

05/22/2026

Are you stuck in a reactive parenting loop? Responding fast, overreacting, and then wondering why nothing actually changes?
Children don’t need bigger reactions. They need to feel understood.

When behavior escalates, it’s easy to raise your voice, tighten control, move straight into consequences. But often, that teaches children to fear the reaction instead of understanding the lesson.

Approaching with curiosity is what breaks that cycle.

Guiding your child instead of condemning them means slowing down to understand how they think, what they’re feeling, and what may be underneath the behavior.

Because when children feel understood, real growth and change become possible.

05/18/2026

“Face the storm” isn’t about forcing positivity or pretending things don’t hurt.

From a mental health perspective, growth often happens when we stop avoiding discomfort and begin learning how to tolerate, process, and move through it safely.

Avoidance can temporarily reduce anxiety, fear, or grief but over time, it can also strengthen those emotions and keep us stuck in survival mode.

We grow in the uncomfortable.

Healing begins when we slowly build the capacity to stay present with difficult emotions instead of constantly escaping them.

If you’re ready to begin healing in a space that feels safe, supported, and understood, join our Women’s PTSD & Trauma Support Group, Tuesdays at 6:30.

You don’t have to navigate the storm alone.

04/24/2026

Thrive In College: 2 Day College Readiness Workshop

Going off to college is a major transition and for many students, it’s the first time they are fully responsible for how they manage stress, make decisions, and handle challenges without day to day support.

A lot of students arrive academically prepared, but struggle with everything around it: time management, mental health, friendships, boundaries, and knowing when and how to ask for help.

Thrive in College workshop focuses on those gaps.

We prepare incoming freshmen with practical skills to manage stress, develop independence, form healthy relationships, and make informed decisions about their time, academics, and future opportunities.

It’s designed to give incoming freshmen a clearer foundation before they arrive on campus and to give parents more confidence in how their student will handle the transition.

Scan the QR code to sign up !

04/20/2026

So many people think being clean, organized, or liking things a certain way is OCD.

But Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not about being tidy.
It’s about:
• intrusive thoughts that feel scary or unwanted
• anxiety that doesn’t just “go away”
• feeling stuck doing things over and over just to get relief
• a loop that’s exhausting and hard to break

You don’t “enjoy” OCD. You feel controlled by it.

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day can bring up a lot.

For some, it’s connection and celebration.
For others, it’s grief, loneliness, relationship stress, or a quiet reminder of what feels missing.

However today lands for you, your feelings are valid.

Love isn’t just romantic. It’s friendship. It’s chosen family. It’s the courage to set boundaries. It’s learning to speak to yourself with more kindness than criticism.

If today feels heavy, you’re not “too sensitive.”
If today feels joyful, you don’t have to minimize that either.

Be gentle with your heart.
It’s doing the best it can.